Fastener for gloves



(No Model.) I I J. A. OFFORD 85 W. B. RICE.

FASTENER FOR GLOVES, SHOES, GORSETS, m. N0. 538,927. Patented May '7, 1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

JOHN A. OEFORD AND WILLIAM B. RICE, NE ROCHELLE, NEW YORK.

FASTENER FOR GLOVES, SHOES, CORSETS,&.0.

SPEGIFICA'I'ION forming part of Letters Patent No. 538,927, dated May 7, 1895.

Application filed July 13, 1893. Serial No. 480,330. (No model.)

f0 all whom, it mtty concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN A. OFFORD and WILLIAM B. RICE, citizens of the United States, residing at New Rochelle, in the county of WVestchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvein cuts in Fasteners for Gloves, Shoes, Corsets, &c.; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to fasteners for gloves, shoes, corsets, 850., and its object is to simplify fastenings of this sort, so that the glove, shoe, or corset, can be more readily drawn tight and fastened in position, than is now the case.

Another object of our invention is to make it possible to adjust the particular article of apparel in question to different positions to suit the needs or convenience of the'wearer. For example, in case of aswollen foot or arm, the glove, or shoe, can be tightened by means of our invention to a degree which suits the wearer, with the same facility as either article of apparel can be brought to its normal position in ordinary use. In the same way, the corset can be adjusted, and in every instance mentioned, the article worn can be adequately tightened, for the purposes of a neat and close fit, or of a firm attachment.

Our invention consists of the fastening devices substantially as hereinafter described and claimed.

We have formed the devices mentioned above into a new combination, by arranging the said eyelets in pairs on opposite sides of the opening to be closed, and by so placing the said eyelets that when the said opening is closed and the edges are brought together, the eyelets on the opposite sides will be in a practically straight line, and the cord also will be straight. This arrangement tends to keep the opening well closed, even when there is considerable strain upon the glove, shoe, or corset.

We have illustrated our invention in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a plan or top view of a glove having our invention attached thereto, and Figs. 2 and 3 show details.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A is a glove to which our invention is attached.

At B is shown a T-shaped appliance, which is attached to the glove by eyelets at the ends of the T-arrns, and has an opening through which the cord or lacing 0 passes. The limbs of the part B are hollow, and adapted to receive the cord which is knotted at the end, the knot being intended to strike against the shoulder frame at b or b and prevent the cord from slipping entirely through the opening.

Along the edges of the glove are arranged pulley eyelets, D D, the construction of which will be described hereinafter. It will be seen that the said pulley eyelets, D. D are arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the glove opening, and that when the said opening is closed the eyelets are practically in line with one another, as shown. This arrangement of the pulley eyelets is of importance in that in drawing up the cord or lacing it pulls on each side of the opening at directly opposite points, and thereby makes the closure of the opening complete.

The grip or catch is shown at E being secured to the material of the glove, by an eyelet in the usual manner, and having a lever e pivoted at e which lever is adapted to enter with its outer ends the hollow cylinder f, through which the cord 0 passes. The end of the said lever can be caused to enter the cylinder and bind or grip the cord by simply pressing upon the lever with the finger. In this position the cord cannot bewvithdrawnin the direction of loosening the glove, although the cord can be released for that purpose, or for furthertightening by simply pulling it in the opposite direction.

The part D which we have called a pulley eyelet, is really a double eyelet, one eyelet serving as a means of attachment to the glove in the usual way, and the other projecting over the edge of the glove, in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 2. This makes a firm and compact structure which is easily put in place, while it permits the complete closure of the opening.

\Vhile we have described our fastener as especially applicable to gloves, shoes, or corsets, yet we do not wish to limit ourselves to such use alone, but desire to cover by our patent all the uses to which the said fastener can be applied.

It is obvious that our appliance can be employed in combination with a tongue or flap, either above or below the opening to be closed, or both. It is also clear, that our fastener would make a neatappearance even upon the back of a glove, if the wrist opening should be made there instead of at the front.

An advantage which our invention possesses, is thatthe article to which it is attached, for example, a shoe, can be readily tightened, without the friction or binding, which results from passing the string or cord, up and down, through succeeding eyelets in the process of lacing. All that is required in our case is to pull on the cord, when, as a result of the decreased friction, all the pulley eyelets will be drawn into line and the shoe will be completely laced. This results from the fact that the cord or lacing is always above or outside the glove, shoe, corset, or other article, so that there is no binding of the cord between the article of apparel and the body ofthe wearer, the cord being always free to be drawn tight without unnecessary friction.

Having described ourinvention,we claim- 1. The T-shaped tubular cord holding device 13 having the tubular arms provided with the internal shoulders I) b, said device being adapted to be secured near one end of an opening in an article of apparel, for holding one end of a fastening cord, substantially as described.

2. The grip or catch E for securing the lacing cord of a glove, shoe, corset or other article, consisting of a tube or cylinderf for the passage of the cord, and the angular lever c pivotally connected at e and having its free end adapted to swing into and out of one end of the tube, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names, in the presence of two witnesses, this 5th day of July, A. D. 1893.

JOHN A. OFFORD. WVILLIAM B. RICE.

\Vitnesses:

JOHN T. MURPHY, G. H. STOCKBRIDGE. 

